Eileen Ford, Co-Founder of Ford Models, Dies at 92

Eileen Ford, co-founder of Ford Models, has passed away at the age of 92. Ford had been hospitalized since last week after suffering a fall in her New York City apartment, according to PEOPLE.

Eileen co-founded Ford Models with her husband Jerry Ford in 1946, and is widely regarded as a pioneer in creating the modern modeling industry.

Following her graduation from Barnard in 1943, Eileen met future husband Jerry at a drugstore near Columbia University. After he returned from World War II, the couple formed the Ford Modeling Agency after Eileen had worked as a secretary at her father's law firm. Within a year after its start, Ford Modeling had earned almost $250,000 in a year, making it the second or third most successful modeling agency in the U.S. at the time.

Over the years, Ford Models has represented many of fashion's top supermodels, including Christie Brinkley, Cheryl Tiegs, Vendela, Carol Alt, Elle Macpherson, Christy Turlington and Amber Rose. Other celebrity clients include, or have included, Lindsay Lohan, Lana Del Rey and Courteney Cox.